U.S. Congress to evaluate military embargo on Indonesia

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The U.S. Congress will evaluate the embargo imposed on the Indonesian Military (TNI) in July, pending the completion of the ongoing Human Rights Tribunal in the country against military and civilian officials accused of committing gross human rights violations in East Timor in 1999, an official said on Saturday.

Maj. Gen. Sudrajat, Director-General of Defense Strategy at the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, said the U.S. congressmen had given a very positive response to the Indonesian government over its concern for the enforcement of human rights.

But, he was quick to add that the U.S. Congress was waiting for 'a certificate' from the U.S.' executive branch, that the result of the ongoing rights tribunal was satisfactory.

Sudrajat was accompanying Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil during a recent three-day visit to the U.S. to meet the country's Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and his deputy Paul D. Wolfowitz, as well as several Pentagon staff and chairman of the U.S. National Security Council Condoleeza Rice.

During the visit, the Indonesian officials had hoped to meet influential U.S. congressmen, including Democrat Patrick Leahy who had proposed a military embargo on TNI following the 1999 post-ballot violence in East Timor.

Sudrajat regretted the congressman's reluctance to see them, saying that "Leahy was too busy to meet the Indonesian delegation."

"But the government, as well as the TNI headquarters, will maintain its stance of not interfering in the current rights tribunal although we (Indonesia) desperately need U.S. military aid," Sudrajat told The Jakarta Post by phone from the Netherlands.

Earlier on Friday, TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin asked for understanding from the U.S. government on the Indonesian Military's internal problems here, especially "its troops preparedness while performing their tasks in the country's troubled regions."

"TNI is currently facing problems in maintaining its equipment, as well as improving the soldiers' professionalism following the suspension of all military training and cooperation by the U.S. government," he said.

"Meanwhile, on the other hand, the U.S. pressures us to seriously combat terrorism which they allege has been cultivated here," Sjafrie said.

Several former government, military, and police officials are facing trial at the Human Rights Tribunal for alleged gross human rights violation before, during, and after the 1999 ballot.

The tribunal is set to issue the verdict in July, and if proven guilty, the officials will face a minimum of 10 years in prison.